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个人主义 (gè rén zhǔ yì) — individualism

Definition

In Chinese contexts 个人主义 often carries a negative tone ('self-centeredness'), unlike the more neutral Western sense of 'individualism'. The opposite framing point is 集体主义 ('collectivism').

noun
individualism

Examples

  • 个人主义，。
    Xī fāng shè huì qiáng diào gè rén zhǔ yì, ér dōng fāng shè huì gèng zhù zhòng jí tǐ zhǔ yì.
    Western society emphasizes individualism, while Eastern society focuses more on collectivism.
  • 个人主义。
    Guò dù de gè rén zhǔ yì kě néng huì dǎo zhì shè huì níng jù lì xià jiàng.
    Excessive individualism may lead to a decline in social cohesion.
  • ，个人主义。
    Zài zhōng guó wén huà zhōng, gè rén zhǔ yì cháng cháng bèi shì wéi zì sī de biǎo xiàn.
    In Chinese culture, individualism is often seen as a manifestation of selfishness.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

个人individual
个gèsingle人rénperson
偏正Modifier + head
主义-ism
主zhǔ义yì

“个人” refers to the individual and “主义” denotes a doctrine, giving individualism.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 個; 个 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
固
固gù個ge
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

For 个, the form 個 pairs 亻 (person) with 固 as a sound part.

Open 个 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 人 shows a side view of a standing person, with an arm and a leg.

Open 人 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The old forms that became 主 showed a lamp or torch with a flame at the top; other forms showed wood on fire or a spirit tablet.

Open 主 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 義; 义 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
羊羊yáng
Sound part声符shēngfú
我
我wǒ義yì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 義 has 我 giving the sound and 羊 meaning good or auspicious; the simplified 义 is a later abbreviation.

Open 义 →
Appears in
Abstract Concepts

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